Crime Stoppers: Cold case? Not for the parents of Roman Jackson

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Cold cases. You hear us talk about them and you see them on television shows. The word cold however, doesn't always fit just because time has passed. For one particular mother and father in Ascension Parish, it certainly doesn't. Not with the passion and love they still hold for their son and what happened to him.

"I remember it just like it was yesterday. It's something that just won't leave you," says Freddie Jackson. The yesterday he is talking about was 12 years ago, and the something he is referring to is the murder of his son.

Roman Jackson was gunned down in his car the evening of January 19, 2004 along Walter Hill Road near Darrow.

"He's gone but not forgotten," says his mother Bertha Jackson. "I shower my wall with pictures. Friends, family and most of his pictures. I see him every day."

The memories that once just filled his room a dozen years ago, are now everywhere in the home. A star football and basketball player in high school, the pictures, the trophies, they are there for all to see now. A little glimpse into a life cut short.

Roman and his girlfriend were driving from Gonzales back to her home near Darrow when a car began to follow them that night. From Highway 44, down Highway 22, and onto Walter Hill. When Roman pulled over to let the car go by, somebody opened fire. He was shot three times and died at the scene. His girlfriend wasn't hurt.

Photos from that horrible night, now share space with trophies and pictures of happier times. Because times are certainly not always happy these days.

"I cry all the time," says his mom. "Sometime I don't let him see me and he don't let me see him."

They are strong though, because they've had to be. It's been a dozen years and still nothing. The one thing they do have though, is hope.

"I watch the news all the time. I see how people do things and later on they come back and turn themselves in," says his dad.

His mother is a bit more direct.

"I know somewhere you have a conscious. You're not resting at night. Just turn yourself in."

For mom and dad, it's hard to believe it's been 12 years. They think about the life he could have had. The pictures yet to be taken. The memories yet to be made. The memory of that night though, that will stay with them forever.

His father remembers being at the scene that night. "To walk up to that car and see my baby's head laying up by the door. That was a dreadfulthing."

A dreadful thing that has been allowed to haunt this family for too long. So let's help them finally put this to rest. Let's help give them a new memory.

If you have any information about this crime, or other crimes, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Remember, you can remain anonymous.